Coming for a visit...?

Ok, yes, sorry. I know I didn't post anything yesterday. I'll try to make it up to you.

In a tuctuc by myself for once! This is a view I rarely see.

So, I got to thinking. I've mentioned to several of my friends that they are free to visit. Of course, the typical reply is laughter, followed by intrigue, followed by 'you're nuts' (get that a lot too...).

...but what if you did want to come? What would you need to know? Anything important?

Well, yes, lots of stuff.

Little waterfront area. Quite nice, but don't make the birds angry...

I decided to put together a little post on what you would want to do before coming, and other odds and ends once you get here.

Obviously, you'd want to have Eric and Ginny to guide you and show you the ropes, You won't have that, so you get... me. :)

Independence monument in the back there. Come sight see with me!

Stop groaning. Save that for when you buy food from the wrong vendor.

Ok, packing - for a one week visit, bring plenty of cash, undamaged and clean (Cambodian money is some of the dirtiest you'll ever see. However, they won't take our money if it is dirty or torn). Bring one quarter so you can try to pay for something with it. The look you get is priceless, and well worth the effort (they don't use metal money here, and have no idea what it is). Yes, I am kidding. If you come here, I want you to be kind to these people. After all, it's up to you and me to break the mold of 'rude American' set forth by previous travelers.

Can you see the playground?

You'll be wanting screen protectors for your phone (it's very dusty), and good, light clothing. However, Cambodians are quite formal in their day to day wear. Think 'business casual' and you should be fine. Do not think to wear shorts everywhere - nobody here does that. At least, not since I made that mistake. Yes, it's hot here.

Cambodian Riel (pronounced reel). These ones are new.

You'll need transportation. Your hotel should be able to recommend a tuctuc (cheaper than a cab) driver to you. I recommend coming to some sort of agreement on price before going anywhere. You don't want to pay 30$ just to go to the market and back.

The markets can be a tad confusing.

You can hit the Russian Market, or Psar Toul Tom Pong (psa - tool - tum - poong), and find some really nice things. Just expect to pay more than the locals do. You are a foreigner, and therefore have money. :) Haggling is good, but only start haggling if you intend to buy. Say 'Tah-lie-bon-mohn' to ask how much something is. 1$ USD = $4,000 Riel.

Don't recommend eating here without a Khmer immune system.

Be choosy where to eat. Markets and street vendors should be avoided without a good guide to show you around and vouch that the food wasn't: A. undercooked; B. handled by someone with no knowledge of germs; C. made out of something you'd normally consider a household pest... or animal.

A good trick of the trade too, is to make a mental note of any restaurants and stores that have western bathrooms. Keep this list in your head! Cambodian bathrooms are basically a hole in the ground, and without a tutorial on their use, it's easy to slip and fall in. Yes, that happens. Yes, it's gross.

You'll like the breeze riding in a tuctuc. The roads are dirty though, so you'll probably shower 3-4 times a day.

Lastly, have fun. The people here love to talk to foreigners. They are friendly, gentle, and kind. They are also unaware of the phrase 'stealing is bad', so be vigilant (not fearful - they aren't malicious). Be free to laugh, and smile often. You'll feel like a movie star in no time with all the attention.

Oh, one more thing - bring bug repellant. The word for mosquito here is 'mus' which is pronounced 'moose'. Yes, the irony is appreciated. :) You wouldn't want to be bitten by a moose, and trust me, you don't want to be bitten by the mosquitoes here either.